The Estonian president, Alar Karis, called for a thoughtful and long-term approach regarding Ukraine’s potential NATO membership, emphasizing that the prospect of Kyiv’s integration into the alliance is entirely realistic in the future, regardless of current political difficulties and ambiguous statements on the international stage
In an interview with the Lithuanian television channel LRT, Karis stressed the importance of not disillusioning oneself due to the lack of unanimous political will among allies at this time. Specifically, he was asked about the likelihood of Ukraine becoming a NATO member, considering that in the United States, one of the main actors in the system, there is currently hesitation—expressed notably by former President Donald Trump—regarding Kyiv’s possible accession to the alliance. “Remember, Estonia started discussions about NATO membership back when Russian troops were stationed on our land, and not everyone believed that Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania would ever become full members of the alliance. But today, this is a reality. We are NATO members and active allies,” highlighted President Karis. He noted that Finland and Sweden recently concluded a long period of neutrality and joined NATO, further confirming their commitment to the security community. Karis added that Ukraine also needs security guarantees. In his view, a long-term future for the country within the collective defense system is entirely possible. “We are confident that Ukraine will eventually become a NATO member. It’s a matter of time and joint effort,” emphasized the Estonian leader. Next year, Estonia plans to significantly increase its defense spending, allocating over 5% of its gross domestic product to the defense sector, in accordance with NATO recommendations. Estonia’s Minister of Defense, Hanno Pefkur, expressed confidence that member countries of the alliance can realistically reach their targeted defense expenditure goals within five years—that is, increasing the figure to 2% and even 5% of GDP. Such commitments demonstrate Estonia’s desire to strengthen its defense capabilities in the face of current challenges. Ultimately, the question of Ukraine’s future in NATO and the alliance’s further policy, including the scope and nature of security guarantees to be provided to Ukraine, remains one of the key issues on the international political agenda. Many experts and analysts note that despite the complex situation today, the long-term prospects for Ukraine’s integration into NATO are quite realistic—especially considering the gradual movement of Eastern European countries toward increased cooperation and the strengthening of defensive alliances. In this context, it is also worth mentioning the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, where discussions will focus not only on security support for Ukraine but also on compromises and strategic decisions that will influence the alliance’s future and, directly, the security of the region as a whole.